Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has once again criticized the Federal Government’s reliance on forceful tactics in dealing with kidnappers, particularly in the case of the recent abduction of 287 pupils and teachers in Kaduna state.
During a televised discussion in Abuja, Gumi emphasized the need for a more nuanced approach, advocating for a deeper understanding of the bandits’ grievances and living conditions.
He cautioned that the government’s aggressive tactics have only exacerbated the situation, transforming the bandits into even more formidable adversaries.
Gumi highlighted the importance of gathering intelligence and engaging with the bandits directly to address the root causes of their actions.
In his words, “These bandits are getting more vicious. Before they were not doing this. They are heading to softer targets and we can only attribute this to the kinetic approach.
“Now we are fighting bandits. They are anonymous. You cannot fight someone you don’t even know. We said let’s go in, let us know them, let’s map them out – know who they are and where they belong. All this intelligence information is virtually not there. The high-handed approach to the matter is what is making it worse. Now they are kidnapping children and threatening death, which they were not doing before. So, I think what to do is really go back to the drawing board and be truly non-kinetic”.
He proposed a program akin to the Niger Delta amnesty initiative, aimed at reintegrating the bandits into society through education, healthcare, and opportunities for a peaceful life.
Drawing parallels to the Niger Delta militants, Gumi underscored the effectiveness of offering incentives for renouncing violence, rather than resorting to punitive measures.
He warned against a cycle of retaliation, urging a shift in tactics and strategy to effectively address the escalating crisis.
In his assessment, Gumi acknowledged the challenges in identifying and engaging with the foot soldiers of the bandits, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to understand their motivations and dynamics.
